Yarn severing mechanism



5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 31, 1965 INVNTOR.

H511 M A m -1.AAG5L/\/, BWM @CM/Kme@ Jan. 3l, 1967 H. HAAGSMA YARN SEVERING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 3l, 1965 l "lll will". .xnlllll ,INVENTOR. H EFQM/Mw I-{AAGSMA www @M A TTRNE Y Jan. 31, 1967 H. HAAGSMA YARN SEVERING MECHANISM Filed Maron 51, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. HERMAN HAAGSMA BWM A T T ORNE Y nited States Patent Gfltice 3,300,962 YARN SEVERING MECHANISM Herman Haagsma, Whitinsville, Mass., assigner to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass., a corporation of Maine Filed Mar. 31, 1965, Ser. No. 444,262 9 Claims. (Cl. 57-54) The present invention relates to a mechanism for removing full ybobbins from spindles of spinning frames, twisters, or the like and, more particularly, to a means yfor severing the ends of yarn or strand material extending from the bobbins.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a means adapted to cooperate with a lbobbin doing mechanism to sever the ends of the strand material which extend from the package wound upon a bobbin.

A further and more specific object is to provide such a means which will sever the strand ends from a bobbin prior to its being acted upon by the mechanism for removing it from its respective spindle.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following more detailed disclosure.

The present invention is applicable to a doffing and donning machine such as that disclosed in United States Patent No. 3,077,725, and since this patent may be referred to for a more detailed description of such a machine, it is considered unnecessary at this point to insert herein the details of the general aspects of construction and operation of this unit.

The doing mechanism to which the present invention is applicable comprises a carriage with a means for mounting the same on machines such as spinning frames, twisters, or the like which support a row of spindles that are utilized in a known manner during the processing of textile yarns. This carriage is adapted to move on such machines along a path parallel to the spindles and to raise and remove the bobbins carried thereon,

The means utilized for doffing full bobbins as disclosed in the above-mentioned patent, includes a drive breaking cam and in close proximity therewith a flexible inclined lifting guide member for raising the bobbins to a position where they are guided into a receptacle `adapted to receive the bobbins as they 4are doffed.

A filling or yarn package `on a bobbin is Wound to a predetermined size and as well known to those conversant in the art, the final wind of yarn is carried rapidly downwardly from the upper portion of the package forming somewhat of a helix wind about the .package `and as it leaves the bobbin the filling thread is wrapped about the base of the spindle where it is held in preparation for the next bobbin.

The usual form of ring and traveler arrangement guides the yarn during the winding process and as described above the final wind of yarn being around the base of a spindle leaves two lengths of yarn extending from said nal wind to the ibobbin package. One length of yarn is that which is carried upwardly to commence the winding of a new package and the second length is that of the final wind.

When a bob-bin is doffed from its respective spindle, the lengths of yarn extending between the newly formed yarn package and the base of t-he spindle must be severed for obvious reasons.

With finer counts of yarn no problem exists with severing, for when the drive breaking cam moves beneath the lbutts of the bobbins to break the hold between the latter and the spindles, the upward movement of said bobbins breaks the lengths of yarn leading to the final wind on the spindle base.

With coarser counts of yarn an undesirable condition is very often created by the aforementioned lengths of 3,3%,962 Patented Jan. 3l, i967 yarn failing to be severed during the initial raising of a bobbin to be dof-fed. Under a condition of this nature, the final yarn wind leading to the base of the spindle remains intact and the yarn is withdrawn from the pack- `age on the bobbin as the latter is carried upwardly and removed from its spindle. It can be easily seen that such a condition wil-l leave an undesirable entanglement of yarn that would have to be removed before normal operation could continue.

The mechanism according to the instant invention provides a positive means of severing the yarn which interconnects a bobbin with its spindle immediately prior to said bobbins engagement with the doffing mechanism.

The invention comprises a unit mounted on the carriage which supports the doffing mechanism and being movable therewith it is so disposed as to perform its intended function in advance of said dofling mechanism. This unit is retractable to and from operating position and includes a lifting cam which is adapted to raise the bobbins from a fixed position on the spindles to a rotatable position thereon. A wheel member rotatably mounted on the unit engages each spindle to clamp and bind the final wind of yarn thereto. A vertically disposed spring biased plate-like member is positioned above and in general alignment with the lifting cam and when in operating position is yieldably engageable with the yarn package of the raised bobbins. Contact between the plate-like member and the yarn package on a bobbin causes the ll-att-er to rotate as the unit and carriage are advanced along the path parallel to the spindles. Rotation of a bobbin in a slightly elevated position assures a positive severing of the two lengths of filling which extend to the base of the spindle and the undesirable condition heretofore described is prevented.

The invention will be described in detail by reference to the specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view showing the mechanism according to the invention and its relation to the bobbins and spindles o-f a spinning frame with which it cooperates in performing its intended function;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a dofling and donning apparatus mounted on the rail of a spinning frame showing the mechanism according to the invention applied thereto in extended or operating position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 and showing the mechanism according to the invention in a withdrawn or non-operating position; `and FIG. 4 is a perspective view and partially in section of the supporting means for the spring -biased lrotatable wheel adapted to clamp and hold the end winds of yarn.

Referring now to the various figures of drawing, FIG. l shows a portion of a spinning frame with which the yarn severing mechanism is caused to cooperate having a ring rail 10, a plurality of spinning rings 11, and an equal number of spindles 12 (the lower portion of one only being shown in FIG, l). The spindles are supported in a known manner below the ring rail 10 and extend upwardly through the latter and the spinning rings affixed thereto to support a bobbin 13 as shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a rail or track 14 that forms the forward portion of a spinning frame which is adapted to support the dofiing and donning apparatus generally indicated in these figures of drawing by numeral 15.

This apparatus attaches to the rail 14 of the spinning frame and is caused to roll there along in a path parallel to the row of spindles by means of wheel-like members 16 (one only shown in FIGS. 2 and 3).

A carriage 17 partially shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 forms a part of the dofiing and donning apparatus and is caused to move therewith in the direction of the indicating arrows 18 shown in said figures of drawing. The carriage 17 supports the bobbin dofiing mechanism which is partially shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and is depicted generally by numeral 19.

The yarn severing mechanism according to the instant invention is also supported by the carriage 17 and is so disposed thereon so as t-o perform its intended function in advance of the dofiing mechanisms function. The yarn severing mechanism is depicted generally in FIGS. l, 2 and 3 by numeral 20 and includes a base portion 21 which is fixedly attached to the carriage 17 by any suitable means.

Support brackets 22 and 23 having a cross sectional configuration that is generally L-shaped are attached to the upper surface of the base portion 21 by means of cap screws 24 (only those cap screws in bracket 23, FIG. 3, are illustrated). These brackets are disposed in spaced relation and in general alignment on the base member 21 and are adapted to support the various components comprising the invention for selective movement to and from operating position therebetween.

A mounting bracket 25 having a generally U-shaped configuration is supported intermediate the support brackets 22 and 23, and by linkage elements to be lmore fully described it is selectively movable in a lateral direction to and away from the row of spindles on the spinning frame.

The leg portions of this U-shaped mounting bracket 25 extend in a lateral direction with respect to the rail 14 and are identified in FIGS. 2 and 3 by numerals 26 and 27. The upper portion of the leg elements 26 and 27 have secured on that surface most remote from the rail 14 aligned ear-like projections 28 and 29, respectively, which extend in a direction away from and like that of said leg elements.

Adjustable connecting links 30 and 31 have one end thereof .pivotally attached to the ear-like projections 28 and 29 as at 32 and 33, respectively. The opposite ends of these adjustable connecting links are attached in a similar manner to the upper ends of the support brackets 22 and 23 -as at 34 and 35, respectively (FIG. 2).

Adjacent the lower end of the U-shaped mounting bracket the leg portions 26 and 27 thereof are provided with link arms 36 and 37 which are pivotally attached at one end to said leg portions as at 38 and 39 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The opposite end of these link arms are attached in a similar manner to the lower portion of the support brackets 22 and 23 as at 40 and 41 in FIG. 3. The cooperating combination of the adjustable connecting links 30 and 31 and the link arms 36 and 37 allow the ymounting bracket 25 to be selectively moved through an arc of travel which will place it in either an inoperative or operating position relative to the row of spindles on the spinning frame. To limit the travel of the mounting bracket 25 toward operating position, a tie bar 42 interconnects the -link arms 36 and 37 and is provided with a centrally disposed and integrally formed lug member 43 (FIG. l), in which adjusting screws 44 are adapted to assemble (one only shown in FIG. l). Adjusting screws 44 assemble in tapped holes provided in the lug member 43 and are maintained in the position desired by means of lock nuts 45. The heads of these adjusting screws 44 (not shown) are caused to bear against .that portion of the mounting bracket 25 intermediate the leg elements 26 and 27, thereby making its operating position an adjustable one.

When this bracket is swung to an inoperative position like that depicted in FIG. 3, it is moved beyond the vertical center of the pivot points and by means of a manual releasable latching arrangement not shown it is maintained in the inoperative position.

The forward vertically disposed surface of the mounting bracket 25 or that surface identified by numeral 46 in FIG. l supports a spring biased camming plate 47 by means of stud members 48 (FIG. 1). The stud members 48 -are fixedly attached at one end to the inner vertical surface of the camming plate 47 and extending in a horizontal plane from the latter they are adapted to enter aligned apertures in the forward vertically disposed surface of the mounting bracket 25. Each of the stud members 48 has a coil spring 49 (FIG. l) assembled on the shank portions thereof intermediate the mounting bracket 25 and the camming plate 47. Those portions of the stud members 48 within the aligned apertures of the mounting bracket 25 have a sliding lit therein and the coil springs 49 on each stud are effective in continually urging the camming plate 47 away from the mounting bracket 25 or in that direction of the indicating arrow 50 in FIG. l. rlio limit the distance which this camming plate is capable of moving, the ends of the stud members 48 extend through the aligned aperture in the mounting bracket 25, and are provided on these ends with such elements as nuts or cotter keys (not shown).

The outermost surface of the camming plate 47 is covered with a sheet material having rubber-like frictional qualities that is identified by numeral 51 and as illustrated in FIG. l is yieldably urged into contact with the yarn package on a bobbin 13. The frictional contact between this sheet material and the yarn package is effective in causing the bobbin to rotate on its spindle to sever the final wind of yarn and will be more fully described hereinafter.

A bobbin raising cam 52 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is attached by any suitable means to the lower forward portion of the mounting bracket 25 and the camming surface extends forwardly of said bracket and in general alignment with the camming plate 47.

This bobbin raising cam 52 is adapted to move beneath and to contact the butt portion of each bobbin 13 to break the hold between said bobbin and its respective spindle.

A rotating yarn holder generally indicated by numeral 53 is mounted for rotary movement beneath the camming plate 47 and the bobbin raising cam 52. This yarn holder is horizontally disposed and is in the form of a Wheel having a plurality of equally spaced cog members 54 disposed about the peripheral extent thereof. The individual cog members 54 have a surface disposed therebetween which curves inwardly toward the axis of the yarn holder and is identified vby numeral 55 (FIGS. l and 5). As illustrated in FIG. l these inwardly curved surfaces 55 are adapted to mesh with the base portion of the spindles 12 as the yarn severing mechanism according to the invention is caused to move along a path parallel to the row of said spindles. The yarn holder itself besides being rotatably mounted, is spring biased in the direction of the spindles thereby causing a clamping action to the final wind of yarn which is wrapped about the base of each spindle `and is effective in preventing rotation of the spindle itself.

The biasing means by which the yarn holder is urged into contact with the spindles includes a pivotable mounting arm 56 (FIG. 4) which is supported for swinging movement from the lower side of a bracket member 57. This bracket member is fixedly attached to the mounting bracket 25 adjacent its lower side and intermediate the leg portions 26 and 27 by means of cap screws 58. One end of the arm 56 supports the yarn holder 53 for rotary movement in a horizontal plane by means of a stud 59 and nut 6). The opposite end of this arm 56 is pivotably attached to the underside of the bracket member 57 by means of a stud member 61 which is fixedly positioned by means of set screws 62 in said bracket member.

A leaf spring 63 (FIG. 4) is lattached lat one end to the lower and side portion of the bracket member 57 as at 64 and the opposite end thereof is in pressing contact with the nut 60 thereby continually urging the yarn holder 53 in the direction of the spindles with which it is adapted to cooperate.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a means for automatically retracting the yarn severing mechanism to an inactive position or that position shown in Fifi. 3 and includes a pivotable retracting arm 65 having a pair of cylindrical roller members 66 and 67 disposed in spaced relation and extending `laterally from said retracting arm. Roller member 66 is positioned above roller 67 and is in contact with the underside of the link arm .as shown in FlG. 2. The roller 67 is in contact with an integrally formed protruding shelf 68 (FG. 3) which extends from a vertically disposed plunger 69 which is guided for vertical movement within a guide bracket 7G. The lower end of the plunger 69 is provided with a follower 71 (FIG. 2) which is engageable `with a rail mounted cam member (not shown) and is effective in forcing the plunger 69 upwardly as the yarn severing mechanism passes the last spindle and leaves the rail of the spinning frame. The upward movement of the plunger 69 forces the lower roller 67 in a like direction thereby pivoting the retract ing arm 65 upwardly causing roller 66 to move along the under-surface of the link arm 37 moving the same and the remaining components of the yarn severing mechanism to an inactive position.

In operation, the mechanism is moved to the position depitced in FIGS. l and 2 'and as the mechanism is caused to move along a path parallel to the row of spindles, the bobbin raising cani is caused to move beneath the butts of the bobbins carried on said spindles to break the hold between these members. As the bobbin is caused to rise the yarn package thereon makes frictional contact with the covering 51 on the camming plate d'7 thereby causing said bobbin to rotate as the mechanism is advanced. At this time one of the inwardly curved surfaces 55 of the rotating yarn holder S3 is in mesh with the base portion of the particular spindle involved and is effective in clamping the final wind of yarn wrapped therearound. As the bobbin continues to rotate, the two ends of yarn extending from the package to the base of the spindle are caused to break thereby permitting the doiiing mechanisui to remove said bobbin without withdrawing a portion of the yarn from the package all as heretofore described.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modiiications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

l claim:

1. A yarn control mechanism adapted to sever the ends of strand material wound on bobbins disposed on a row of spindles supported on a machine which comprises:

(a) a carriage with means for mounting the latter on said machine to move along a path parallel to said spindles,

(b) a bobbin raising cam movable with said carriage to raise said bobb'ms from a fixed position on said spindles to a rotatable position thereon,

(c) means for clamping the end wind of said strand material to the base of each spindle as said carriage moves thereby, and

(d) a further means for causing rotation of said bobbins while clamping said strand material to sever its -connection thereto.

2. A yarn control mechanism adapted to sever the ends of strand material wound on bobbins disposed on a row of spindles supported on a machine which comprises:

(a) a cariage with means for mounting the latter on said machine to move along a path parallel to said spindles,

(b) a bobbin raising carn movable with said carriage to raise said bobbins from a lixed position on said spindles to a rotatable position thereon,

(c) a rotatable wheel member mounted on said carriage and engageable with each of said spindles for clamping the end wind of said strand material thereto, and

(d) a plate member supported by said carriage and engageable with the yarn on said bobbins to effect rotation of the latter and the severing of the end winds of strand material extending from said bobbin to the point of clamping by said wheel member on said spindle.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said rotatable wheel member is provided with a plurality of integrally-formed cog elements extending about the peripheral extent thereof and which are adapted for meshing engagement with said spindles for clamping the end winds of strand material thereto.

li. The structure of claim 2 wherein said rotatable wheel member includes a biasing means for yieldingly urging the same into meshing relation with said spindles.

5. The structure of claim 2 wherein said plate member includes a biasing means for yieldingly urging the salme into contact with the strand material wound on said bobbins.

6. The structure of claim 2 wherein said carriage includes a means for selectively moving said rotatable wheel member and `plate member into and out of operating engagement with said bob'bins and spindles.

7. The structure of claim 2 wherein said carriage and machine include a cooperating means for automatically retracting said rotatable wheel member and plate member after severing the strand material on the bobbin disposed at the end of said row of spindles.

8. A vmethod of severing the end winds of strand material wound on bobbins disposed on a row of spindles supported on a machine which includes the steps of:

(a) raising said bobbins from a fixed position on said spindles to a rotatable position thereon, and

(b) rotating said bobbins to effect severing of said strand material.

9. A method of severing the end winds of strand material wound on bobbins disposed on a row of spindles supported on a machine which includes the steps of:

(a) raising said bobbins from a fixed position on said spindles to a rotatable position thereon,

(b) clamping the end winds of strand material extending from said bobbins to said spindles, and

(c) rotating said bobbins to effect severing of said strand material.

References Cited by the Examiner UNTED STATES PATENTS 2,653,440 9/1953 Partington 57-53 2,886,940 5/1959 Urano et al 57-53 3,116,587 1/1964 DuBuis et al. 57--53 3,176,458 4/1965 DuBiuis et al. 57-53 3,204,397 9/ 1965 Cugini 57-53 FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner'.

D. E. WATKNS, Assistant Examinez'. 

1. A YARN CONTROL MECHANISM ADAPTED TO SEVER THE ENDS OF STRAND MATERIAL WOUND ON BOBBINS DISPOSED ON A ROW OF SPINDLES SUPPORTED ON A MACHINE WHICH COMPRISES: (A) A CARRIAGE WITH MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE LATTER ON SAID MACHINE TO MOVE ALONG A PATH PARALLEL TO SAID SPINDLES, (B) A BOBBIN RAISING CAM MOVABLE WITH SAID CARRIAGE TO RAISE SAID BOBBINS FROM A FIXED POSITION ON SAID SPINDLES TO A ROTATABLE POSITION THEREON, (C) MEANS FOR CLAMPING THE END WIND OF SAID STRAND MATERIAL TO THE BASE OF EACH SPINDLE AS SAID CARRIAGE MOVES THEREBY, AND (D) A FURTHER MEANS FOR CAUSING ROTATION OF SAID BOBBINS WHILE CLAMPING SAID STRAND MATERIAL TO SEVER ITS CONNECTION THERETO. 